Bradley University Top Questions

My favorite thing about Bradley is the Chemistry department. Every single teacher in that department knows my name. They really go out of their way to help you out and really care about how you're doing, both as a student and as a person. I missed a week of school last semester because I was sick. The week I came back I couldn't make it through a day without a faculty member stopping me in the hallway to ask me how I was feeling. The teachers post office hours, but most of them are willing to see you any time they're not busy. They'll sit and help you, many of them for as long as it takes for you to understand the material. The Chemistry department also offers opportunities to gain very valuable research experience. I've gotten to know my research advisor well and gained an idea of what research as a graduate student will be like. Earlier classes are taught in big lecuture halls, but upper level classes are small. Even though the classes taught in a lecture hall were big, I never felt like a teacher didn't have time to answer my questions out of class. Most of my negative experiences with a class at Bradley have been in the general education courses. Many of them are poorly taught and I gained little knowledge that will ever prove useful.

teachers are very helpful

Bradley is a good academic school. Some majors are harder than others, but a lot of them try to make sure you have a well-rounded education. I'm a Health Science major, and I was required to have a minor or other concentration, plus I had to take a business class, a teaching class, and a human relationships development class, and two of the three dealt with those issues from a healthcare point of view 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the time.

I love the class sizes. I've been in classes of close to 70 and had a class of 6, including myself. The size of the class really depends on the type of class it is. Gen Eds are typically bigger classes and classes focused on your major and higher level classes tend to get rather small. Most of my teachers would remember me if I approached them and said hi, semesters after having them. I try to make it a point to talk one on one with my teachers at the beginning of the semester and I have no problems asking them for help in any way. Teachers are extremely understanding in all situations and teachers, in general, are extremely fair.

You do not have to be really smart to come here, but you have to work hard.

Because Bradley is a smaller university there may only be one professor who teaches a class so if you have a problem with them, you're pretty much screwed. There are a lot of required general education classes but Bradley is good about transferring them in from community colleges.

Every single professor I have had has known my name. Even professors that teach in lecture halls. I will probably keep fairly close contact with some of my professors after I graduate. Depending on the classroom and the course, most students participate in classroom discussion. And after class, nearly all students can talk with one another. Most of my classes require a good amount of studying to maintain good grades. In all honesty I would say I havent had to study for one or two classes. All students are very competitive and any way you can set yourself apart is helpful.

Bradley provides a great academic environment. While there are a few classes that are conducted in lecture halls which may have over 100 people in them, the majority of classes have around 20 students. As move into the 300 and 400 level classes they become more seminar style- having closer to 10 students. This enables professors to give individual attention to the students. People at Bradley study as much as they want to. You can usually get by without it, but if you want to do well then you need to work hard. Class participation is encouraged and sometimes will affect your grade. The Department of International Studies is fairly small. The professors are incredibly smart and very friendly. It is easy to build a relationship in which you are on a first name basis with them. You can be as involved in the major as you want to be. Some people just go to classes, others hang out in the main department office and chat with one another and the professors about school and the world and fun random things. There is always coffee available in the IS office.

Bradley is extremely well known for its Engineering. A Bradley engineer is really sought after. I roomed with 3 female engineers and each had jobs in the works before the start of 2nd semester. I learned something important in every one of my classes. One I really enjoyed outside my major was Japan:Religion and Culture. The professor is amazing, and he is so interested in student learning. He insisted upon learning all of our names and talking to all of us. He made a class about Japan so interesting. I would have loved to take his trip to China for his Chinese religions class. I studied within the biology department with intent to attend medical school, which I am. My faculty all knew me, regardless of whether I had actually taken a class with them. The Biology faculty are truly interested in student success. My adviser told me when I left that he expected to hear from me. Not only to check in, but also to give him suggestions for improving the curriculum. If that's not interest in student success, I don't know what is.

Bradley has really good academics with each major focused toward giving students an advantage to a good job or enter Graduate school. The curriculum tries to build well rounded students and has requirements that will actually help you in the future instead of classeswith information you won't use. Almost all teachers take the time to get to know their students and required advising sessions and teacher office hours help keep you on track. Study Abroad is amazing and because Bradley is private, it allows them to provide more funding scholarships and opportunities for students to study abroad. It is not much more to study in Europe for a semester, or a few weeks then it would be to study here.